"Escape" is a song written by Enrique Iglesias, Steve Morales, Kara DioGuardi, and David Siegel for Iglesias's fifth studio album, Escape (2001). The song is the album's opening track and was released as its second single. In Japan, "Escape" was released on 23 January 2002 as a double A-side with "Hero", while in the United States, it was serviced to radio five days later. The song reached number three in the UK and number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100. A Spanish version of the song, titled "Escapar", reached number nine in Iglesias's native Spain.
Music and lyrics "Escape" composed in common time and in the key of B major, with the entire song consisting of a I–IV–vi–V chord progression loop.Sheet music for "Escape". Alfred Publishing. 2002. It is written in verse-chorus form, and its instrumentation comes from the electric guitar and keyboard. The song moves at a tempo of 126 beats per minute. Enrique Iglesias' vocals span from F4 to D6.
Music video
The song's music video was directed by Dave Meyers and filmed in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center and the CityWalk shopping area in Universal City, California.Moss, Corey. "Enrique Iglesias Serves Up...". Retrieved 2 November 2007. It features Iglesias and tennis-player Anna Kournikova (whom eventually became his partner) as his love interest. The video opens with a sequence of Iglesias performing the song, backed by a live band, in front of a huge crowd in a theater. Throughout the video, there are sequences of Iglesias and Kournikova's relationship. The first sequence is of Iglesias driving through a busy city on a motorbike while Kournikova awaits his arrival. Once he arrives, he attempts to kiss her but she pushes him away.
In the next scene Iglesias follows Kournikova into the ladies room. She catches his eye in the mirror and turns around to kiss him. They continue kissing while sprawled across the bathroom sinks until two security guards pull them apart and take Iglesias away. The scene soon cuts to another scene where another security guard pulls up in a carpark and spots them kissing while lying across the front seats of a car. But, unlike the previous security guards, he leaves them undisturbed and drives away. The video closes with a scene of the theater being emptied, but Kournikova stands and waits in her seat until Iglesias comes over to her after the crowd has left.
"Escape" premiered on MTV's top-10 chart program Total Request Live on 30 January 2002,"The TRL Archive — Debuts" . PopFusion. Retrieved 2 November 2007. where it reached number one."The TRL Archive — February 2002" . PopFusion. Retrieved 2 November 2007. It was Iglesias's first video to retire from the chart at number one. After its 8 February debut on MuchMusic's Countdown, it reached number one for the week of 19 April.#1s. MuchMusic programming. Original airdate: April 2002. Retrieved 2 November 2007.
Live performances Enrique first performed the song at the NBA All-Star Read to Achieve Celebration on 9 February 2002, followed by a performance on The Late Show with David Letterman two days later. He also performed on MTV's Fashionably Loud on 19 February and on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on 18 April 2002. He would perform the song alongside "Hero" at that year's World Music Awards, and in the UK, he would perform the song as a duet with Lulu in her An Audience with... special and solo on Michael Parkinson's talk show Parkinson.
Track listings
Spanish CD single "Escapar" (album version) "Escape" (album version)
Spanish maxi-CD single "Escapar" (album version) "Escape" (album version) "Escape" (StoneBridge radio mix) "Hero" (Thunderpuss remix) "Hero" (video)
European CD single "Escape" (album version) "Escape" (Boogieman remix)
UK CD1 "Escape" (album version) – 3:28 "Escape" (Thunderpuss club mix) – 9:36 Enrique interview footage
UK CD2 "Escape" (album version) – 3:28 "Escape" (Giorgio Moroder & Fernando Garibay club mix) – 7:44 "Escape" (StoneBridge radio mix version) – 4:30 "Escape" (video)
UK cassette single "Escape" (album version) – 3:28 "Escape" (Giorgio Moroder & Fernando Garibay club mix) – 7:44
Australian CD single "Escape" (album version) "Escape" (Boogieman remix) "Escape" (StoneBridge radio mix) "Hero" (Thunderpuss remix) "Hero" (enhanced video)
Japanese CD single – "Hero" / "Escape" "Hero" (album version) "Escape" (album version) "Hero" (instrumental version)
Credits and personnel Credits are lifted from the Escape album booklet.
Studios Recorded at Hit Factory Criteria (Miami, Florida) Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering Studio (Hollywood, California)
Personnel
Enrique Iglesias – writing, vocals, co-production, vocal production Steve Morales – writing, background vocals, production, vocal production Kara DioGuardi – writing, background vocals, vocal production David Siegel – writing, keyboards Aaron Fishbein – electric guitar Sebastian Krys – mixing Shane Stoner – engineering Fabian Marasciullo – engineering Marc Lee – assistant engineering Ivy Skoff – production coordination Brian Gardner – mastering
Charts
Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for "Escape"Chart (2002)PeakpositionCroatia International Airplay (Top lista)6Czech Republic (IFPI)2Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)7Greece (IFPI) See Best column.26Honduras (UPI)4Portugal (AFP)2Romania (Romanian Top 100)2 +Weekly chart performance for "Escapar"Chart (2002)Peakposition
Year-end charts +Year-end chart performance for "Escape"Chart (2002)PositionAustralia (ARIA)44Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)41Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)34Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS)14Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)57Germany (Media Control)40Ireland (IRMA)20Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)31Netherlands (Single Top 100)47New Zealand (RIANZ)13Sweden (Hitlistan)87Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)71UK Singles (OCC)46UK Airplay (Music Week)46US Billboard Hot 10057US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)85US Dance Club Play (Billboard)1US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)40 +Year-end chart performance for "Escapar"Chart (2002)PositionUS Hot Latin Tracks (Billboard)24US Latin Pop Airplay (Billboard)20
Certifications
Release history +Release dates and formats for "Escape"RegionVersionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Japan"Hero" / "Escape"23 January 2002CDInterscopeUnited States"Escape"28 January 2002Contemporary hit radioAustralia4 March 2002CDUnited Kingdom13 May 2002
See also List of Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play number ones of 2002
References
External links Enrique Iglesias official website "Escape" Music video Escape audio